This survey of the history of women in medicine begins in the mid 19th century and moves forward to the late 20th Century. The twelve historical studies are divided by the editors into three sections, largely chronological. The first section focuses on the 19th century women best known for their breakthrough into the male bastion of regular medicine in America. There is, in addition to the more traditional studies, a look at the role of a Chinese woman physician in Progressive Era Chicago. Section two takes the reader into the early 20th century Womens' Health Movement, including a fresh look at the narrative forms of Our Bodies, Ourselves. Section three examines the mid-late 20th century position of women in American medicine and an interesting discourse on the impact of Western women physicians on issues of childbearing in Asia during the early part of the same century.